Insecticide



sept. 2 1924. 1,507,434

.6. SCHOLLMEYER INSEGTIGIDE Filed Jan. 17, 1921 FIGS.4

HG2. FIC-3.4.

l NTD'R Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES l 1,501,434 PATENTS OFFICE.

GUSTAV SCHOLLMEYER, OF COTHEN, ANHALT, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR T0 THE FIRM:CHEMISCHE FABRIX COTHEN, INHABER EMIL MUSCHE, 0F CUTHEN, ANHALT,

GERMANY.

` msncriernn.

Application led January 17, 1921. Serial No. 437,921.

To all 'whom 'it may cof/wem.'

Be it known that I, GUs'rAv SCHOLLMEYER,

a citizen of the German Empire, residing at Cothen, Anhalt, Germany,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Insecticides, ofwhich the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to a method and' means for the destruction ofmoths, more particularly of the clothes moth, its brood and larvae, asalso of all other insects and their brood injurious to furs and wearingapparel generally, and this in a perfectly simple and reliable manner,while at the Sametime enabling the articles treated in accordance withmy'method to be protected from a fresh intrusion of'moths for thefuture. To this end, it has been hitherto customary to cause naphthaleneand camphor in any of their forms to be evaporated. However, experiencehas shown that the object aimed at could either not be achieved at allor but to a very inadequate measure by the mere evaporation of theaforesaid substances.

The essential feature of the method ac cording to the present inventionconsists in the vapours of naphthalene or naphthalene and camphoremployed being developed by the gradual burning down of a solid -bodymade of a mixture of naphthalene or camphor and naphthalene withpulverulent coal or wood meal and saltpetre or other substances suitablefor promoting combustion, and with or without agglutinants. Thenaphthalene vapours or vapours containing naphthalene thereby developed.produce a most excellent effect, as the hot vapours penetrate everypart of the article treated, while .at the same time, the finely dividednaphthalene comes to settle upon the said articles and by subsequentlyevaporating prevents any fresh intrusions of moths or the like. Myimproved method is not'confined in its practical realization to anyspecial apparatus an'd may moreover be readily carried out in everyhousehold, which is not the case with the methods hitherto known inwhich naphthalene vapours are made use of, since these always require anextensive apparatus in order to enable them to be carried into eect.Preferably the solid bodies employed for the purpose specified have theshape of small cones and consist of a mixture of naphthalene ornaphthalene and camphor with pulverized coal or wood meal and saltpetreor other substances likely to promote combustion, and are prepared withor without the aid of agglutinants. The apex of the t' burning cone ispreferably provided with a -cap of impregnated cellulose or spunk tofacilitate the lightin When once llghte, the cones gradually glow downand in sodoing develop naphthalene vapours. The ratio of combination ofthe ingredients employed in the making of the vapour developingbodiesmust be such that the glowing temperature will not attain theflashing-point of naphthalene. I have moreover found that thedestruction of moths and similar insects and their brood will berendered still more effective and rapid on formaldehyde being mixed withthe naphthalene vapours in a certain definite proportion. This maypreferably be achieved by adding to the mixture of which the glow conesare to be made, paraformaldehyde in a pulverulent state or polymerizedparaformaldehyde Aand this in a quantity corresponding to about one halfof the weight of the naphthalene employed. In the latter case, themixture is dephlegmated be fore compressing by subjecting it to acareful evaporation at temperatures up to about 40 C., at which neithera sublimation nor a decomposition of the paraformaldehyde are liable tooccur. However, the paraformaldehyde may also be added to the mixture inany other proportions deemed expedient.

As a result of the high temp rature created by the glowing or burningown of the solid body, the formaldehyde liberated therefrom comes tocombine itself with the naphthalene vapours, at the same time developed,to a gaseous mixture in which, as tests have shown, larvae cannot existwhich are even more ditlicult to destroy than the larvae of the clothesmoth.

In the drawings aiiixed to this specifica` 100 Referring to thedrawings, a is the cgnical 110 body made of the aforo-indicatedingredients, and which may be provided with a small cap of spunk or thelike. The said cone is housed in a tin box b, the opening of Which iscovered by a wire netting c. When not in use, the box is adapted to betightly closed by a cover d, thereby preventing an evaporation of thenaphthalene and ensuring an almost unlimited durability of the means assuch.

Previous to being put in use, the cover is removed, the point of theglow cone lighted and the box together with the body placed in the room,wardrobe or trunk, musical instrument (such as piano or harmonium) orbelow the upholstered ware to be treated, whereupon as the cone a burnsdown, vapours are developed which serve to effectively destroy the mothsor other insects, their brood and larvae.

I claim:

l. The method of protecting clothes and the like against the attack ofinsects, consisting in promoting iameless low temperature combustion ofa comburent intermixed with naphthalene in such manner as to cause thesublimation of naphthalene and its deposition on the articles to beprotected.

2. As a new product, a solid mixture of naphthalene `and a substanceadapted to promote combustion, theproportion being such that the mixtureon being ignited will burn down slowly without a flame and developnaphthalene vapors.

8. As a new product, a solid mixture of naphthalene and a substanceadapted to promote combustion, the proportion being such that themixture on being ignited will merely glow at a temperature below theflashing point of naphthalene.

4. As a new product, a solid mixture of naphthalene, a further substanceadapted on being heated to develop insect destroying vapors and asubstance adapted to promote combustion, the proportion being such thatthe mixture on being ignited will merelyl glow at a temperature belowthe flashing point of naphthalene.

5. As a new product, a solid mixture of naphthalene a substance adapted,on being heated, to develop formaldehyde vapors, and asubstance adaptedto promote combustion, the proportion bein such that the mixture onbeing ignited wil merely glow at a temperature below the flashing pointof naphthalene. l

6. As a new product, a solid mixture of naphthalene and a substanceadapted to promote combustion, the proportion being such that themixture on being ignited will burn down slowly without a flame anddevelop naphthalene vapors and a primer of easily ignited materialattached thereto.

7. As a new article of manufacture, the combination of a conical candlecontaining naphthalene and a substance adapted to promote combustion, aprimer on top of said candle, a metal box surrounding said candle and agrid closing said box and extending between said candle and said primer.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signa! ture.

GUSTAV SCHOLLMEYER.

